Improved fire-proof ceilings and roofs



' .GILBERT; FIREPROOF CEILING AND ROOF,

2 No. 64,659 Patentd May I l @1867.

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JOSEPH GILBERT, 9F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. Letters Patent No. 64,659, dated May 14, 1867; reissue No. 2,794,datedflovember t" 18437.

IMPROVED FIREPROOF OEILINGS AND ROOFS TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH GILBERT, oi Phila delphin, Pennsylvania, havc inrentcd an improved Fire-Proof,

Ceiling and I do hereby declare the following to be a. full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention consists of ayceiling composed of; H-girders, corrugated plat s, and certain socket-bearers,

adapted to the said corrugated plates and girders, suB-s antially as described hereafter. so as to form a cheap. light, and ornamental fire-proof ceiling. My-inveetion further consi ts in combining with the above ccrtni .paolting blocks or bricks, in the manner and for the purpose described hereafter.

In order to enable others skilled in the artto make and apply my ill\: Clll.lUIl, I will now proceed to (lL'St'rfie the manner of carrying it into effect, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, which forms a part oi this specification, and in which- 7 Figure 1 is a. sectional elevation of a part of my improved ceiling.

Figure 2, a detacheldsectional View, drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 3,a section on the line 1-'-2, fig. 1; and

Figure 4 a perspective view.

A A are two of-a series of parallel girders, of ordinary H-iron. the opposite ends of xrhiclrprojeet into'thewalls of a building, and on these girders rests the floor a. On each of the lower flanges cof' each girder, and,

against the vertical portion 6, rests a bearer, d, which has a corrugated recess or socket, 17, at one side for the reception of one end of the corrugated metal plate B, the latter being arched, in the present instance, and rest ing at its epposite'end in the socket or recess of a similar bearer, d, fitting on the flange and against the vertical portion of the adjnccnt 'girdcrs. Against the lower sides of the upper ilanges c of each girder bear the Yupper' ends of inclined bricks or blocks X X, the lower ends of which rest upon the corrugated plates 13, the

space between the bricks and the girders being filled with mortar or concrete; and upon the upper corrugated surfuceof the plate B is deposited alayer, z, of concrete, filling the corrugations, and extending an inch or thereabouts ubove'the same. The edges of the plates 13 may be arranged to overlap each other to a limited extent, and thus form a continuous corrugated arch extending the length of the girders. The bearers b are in short sections, which may be readily fitted to the girders so as to form a continuous socket and abutment for the ends of the plates B. The parts composing the ceiling may be riveted together, or may bciitted to each other without using any fnstenings. As but little manual labor, time, and skill are required in fitting the parts together, a ceiling of this character will cost one-fourth less than those in which arches, composed of bricks, extendbetween the girders; at the same time the improved ceiling will resist the action of fire quite as c'iiectually as one of brick. In consequence of the slight weight of the plates B, compared with that of a brick arch, girders A much lighter tha'rithose usually employed may be used? The plates B, besides being grcatlystilieneil by their corrugations, are rendered still more rigid by the layer of concrete, and by the shape of the sockets, which, fitting the said corrugations in the plate, prevent the same from being distended laterally under press.- ure. Apart from the superior lightness and economy of a ceiling thus constructed, it will be seen that corrugated plates present a much more ornamental appearance than the usual plain arches. It will be evident that thebearers may be used in connection ivith straight corrugated plates, and that plates corrugated differently I from those described may be employed, and braces of cast iron or other material may be'substituted for the bricks or blocks X X, or the blocks may be dispensed with, and the entire space above the plates may be filled with concrete.

I claim as my invention, and desire to seizure by Letters Paton-t I 1. A ceiling composed of'girders, corrugated platcs,.and socket-bearers adapted to the said plates, and supported by the girders, all substantially as described. I

2. In combination with the above I claim-the bricks or blocks X X, applied substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

n testimony whereof. I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses. JOSEPH GILBERT.

Witnesses:

O.'E. Fosrss, Joan Wrurs. 

